Lemuridae is one of the four families of lemurs and are part of a class of primates known as prosimians. These animals are the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes (simians).
Genus Lemur has only one member: Lemur catta, or the Ring-tailed Lemur. It is easily recognized by its black and white striped tail, and is found in many zoos.
Lemurs get their name from the Ancient Roman belief that they were ghosts or spirits. They were mistaken for specters (spirits) because many species are nocturnal.
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Lemurs are found only in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. There, however, they are a diverse group of 10 species placed in 4 genera. These small to medium-sized primates are herbivorous or omnivorous, arboreal, and diurnal. Members of the group vary considerably, however, in diet and habit. Some species, are frugivorous, some eat foliage, others include some insects in their diets, and some are even specialized to feed on the leaves of bamboo. All lemurs are at least partly arboreal, but a few spend considerable time on the ground. Lemurs move through the trees both by running along branches and by leaping from vertical stems or trunks ("vertical clingers and leapers").
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Crowned Lemur (Eulemur coronatus) is a lemur that is 33 cm (13 inches) long and weighs 2 kg. The Crowned Lemur is endemic to Madagascar. It mostly eats fruit. The population is estimated to 1000-10,000 individuals, most of which live on the Ankarana Plateau.
